Monthly Archives: May 2017

This heartwarming program takes you on a nostalgic journey through the best of popular music from Canadian stage and screen. Hear classic tunes such as the “Log Driver’s Waltz” and “The Hockey Theme” (from Hockey Night in Canada), as well as a symphonic suite from Canada’s longest-running musical based on one of the country’s most beloved books, Anne of Green Gables… and so much more!

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The only thing Winter Crane likes about Reeve’s End is that soon she’ll leave it. Like her best friend did. Like her sister did. Like most of the teens born in town have done. There’s nothing for them there but abandoned mines and empty futures. They’re better off taking a chance elsewhere.

What Winter will miss is the woods. Her only refuge. At least it was. Until the day she found Lennon left for dead, bleeding in a tree.

But now Lennon is gone too. And he has Winter questioning what she once thought was true. What if nobody left at all? What if they’re all missing?

Meet Eleanor Oliphant: She struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she’s thinking. Nothing is missing in her carefully timetabled life of avoiding social interactions, where weekends are punctuated by frozen pizza, vodka, and phone chats with Mummy.

But everything changes when Eleanor meets Raymond, the bumbling and deeply unhygienic IT guy from her office. When she and Raymond together save Sammy, an elderly gentleman who has fallen on the sidewalk, the three become the kinds of friends who rescue one another from the lives of isolation they have each been living. And it is Raymond’s big heart that will ultimately help Eleanor find the way to repair her own profoundly damaged one.

Smart, warm, uplifting, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine is the story of an out-of-the-ordinary heroine whose deadpan weirdness and unconscious wit make for an irresistible journey as she realizes. .

The only way to survive is to open your heart.

Review:

A perfect book to pop into your purse or travel bag this summer, let ‘Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine: A Novel’ be your book end. With notes of Bridget Jones meets the dark humour of Marvel’s Jessica Jones, Eleanor Oliphant thinks, says and does things we all may already do or have moments of wanting to re-enact in our daily lives.

‘Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine: A Novel’ provides a view into mental health, personal coping strategies and resilience within a grey skied, rainy days London as a backdrop. Seinfeld like moments meets every day ruminating realities are the norm for Eleanor. The light humour will add a nice flavour to your hot drink in transit.

The chuckles, smirks and concerned furrowed browed comments abound. Eleanor Oliphant maybe ‘fine’ but sometimes she is hard to like. But as we the reader delve in further we see the roots of her pained moments, curious confusion and shut downs.

‘Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine: A Novel’ is a complex read but a wonderful reminder that we need to dig deep and see beyond for those with emotional bruising so empathy and support can ensue.

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra has partnered with orchestras and ensembles across the country for an unprecedented pan-Canadian celebration. Over 40 new works—including two-minute pieces called “Sesquies”— have been co-commissioned and presented from coast to coast to coast. Over the weekend, an audience and I celebrated, Chan Ka Nin’s, ‘My Most Beautiful, Wonderful, Terrific, Amazing, Fantastic, Magnificent Homeland: Sesquie for Canada’s 150th’.

This short piece with a long title reflects the composer’s enthusiasm for his homeland. Composer Chan Ka Nin immigrated to Canada in 1965. He is grateful for what Canada has to offer – education, health care, jobs and a generally peaceful and safe environment. This work captured the essence of being able to live in this most beautiful, wonderful, terrific, amazing, fantastic and magnificent country.

Renowned TSO Conductor Laureate Sir Andrew Davis then lead us into a globe-trotting program that included the famous of all Norwegian concertos and concluded in Vienna with Beethoven’s most exhilarating symphony.

The TSO Conductor Laureate Sir Andrew Davis and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra did a tremendous job washing the audience with the true ambiance of what it means to be Canadian. The music that was unveiled musically touched upon our diversity, inclusivity and strength of generosity in the performances that followed.

As the audience and I leaned into ‘Edvard Grieg Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 16’ we felt the first movement which boasted one of the most familiar openings in the entire concerto repertoire. Much of its memorability springs from its very simplicity. The movement proper wears a rather melancholy expression, although warmth is amply present as well. A long, taxing solo cadenza near the end says about all there is to say, so Grieg follows it with only the briefest of summings-up.

The second movement, ushered in by muted strings, is a tender song without words. The Finale follows on directly, led off by an insistent, almost march-like theme. It is modelled on the springdans (leaping dance), a Norwegian folk step. The second theme offers strong contrast. At first, it has the character of as wistful and poetic a melody as Grieg ever penned. In the concluding pages, he demonstrated that it also has the capacity to become a grand, triumphant hymn.

Bavouzet’s performance on the evening was stunning, epic and injected with full on pianist drama. As I scanned the audience, I observed my fellow guests fixatedly mesmerized as Bavouzet channelled thundering depth into the Roy Thomson Hall.

By the time Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92’s made an appearance we were ready. His “heroic” style which also proved to be one of his most popular works, though it was also widely considered difficult and eccentric. A reviewer in 1827 wrote, “The whole thing lasts at least three-quarters of an hour, and is a true mixture of tragic, comic, serious, and trivial ideas, which spring from one level to another without any connection, repeat themselves to excess, and are almost wrecked by the immoderate noise of the timpani.” By one account, Carl Maria von Weber, on the basis of this work, pronounced Beethoven “ripe for the madhouse.” There are dark, strange, disturbing passages in this symphony, but ultimately it is a celebration—joyous, liberated, festive. Wagner famously dubbed it “the apotheosis of the dance,” and a powerful rhythmic momentum does drive every movement—even the Allegretto, which unfolds like a procession.

A gentle reminder to catch the remaining performances that are a part of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s ‘Canada Mosaic’ series. They make for a wonderfully meditative experience and an important Canadian infused cultural education as we prepare to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday.

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The Royal Ontario Museum’s (ROM) Friday Night Live (#FNLROM) series, presented by Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd., delivers Toronto’s best Friday night destination with the hottest DJs, live performances, food and drink, and an opportunity to experience the Museum like never before. On Friday, June 2, 2017, get up close to your favourite dinosaurs, and dance among the fossils.

June 2: Performances

Yasgurs Farm

A soul and funk-rock band based in Toronto, Ontario. Whether they are keeping the dance floor alive with everyone’s favorite hits, or laying down the groove with original material, they always leave their audience satisfied.

DJ MakeM

A one-man party rockin machine of turntable mastery. Paired with surging energy that is evident as soon as he is plugged in and cued up; DJ MAKEM is a journeyman for jumping, and fist-pumping, on the dancefloor!

DJ Greedo

Starting off in 1996 as a skinny 14-year-old high school cafeteria Dj, to competing in DMC Dj competitions, to running a business with Del Vinyl since 2013. He’s earned a few stripes! Experience, presence, and positive composure even under duress are what makes him a priceless staple to events!

Out of the Vaults – Bones & Mythical Beasts: Uncover connections between ROM science and the fantastic creatures of ancient mythology as you get up close and personal with Medusaceratops. (7:30-10:30 pm)

Discover the connections between family, photography, and migration with The Family Camera, an exhibition that explores how family photos shape our sense of self, family, community, and nation.

Art, Honour, and Ridicule: Asafo Flags from Southern Ghana

This new exhibition takes a historical and contemporary look at Asafo flags. These flags are the insignia created for the numerous military Asafo companies of the Fante states along the coast of Southern Ghana. Historically, Asafo companies were in charge of the safety and protection of the local community as well as warfare. Today they act as the vibrant core of local communities. Their flags depict narratives of pride, wisdom, and defiant messages to enemies and are sacred objects depicting the spirit and history of a company.

Thank you to our friends at the ROM for gifting Thirty Four Flavours with a pair of tickets to the June 2: DinoNite edition of Friday Night Live (#FNLROM).

What are the rules when entering the Thirty Four Flavours and Friday Night Live (#FNLROM) Ticket Giveaway?

Simple! Please sign up to Thirty Four Flavours Facebook https://www.facebook.com/thirtyfourflavours, Twitter https://twitter.com/34flavours, or email subscription to enter the draw. When you have signed up please send me a Facebook message, a tweet or email (thirtyfourflavours@gmail.com) telling me what you are excited to see at the June 2: DinoNite edition of Friday Night Live (#FNLROM).

Deadline for the Thirty Four Flavours and Friday Night Live (#FNLROM) Ticket Giveaway is Wednesday May 31, 2017.

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Kicking off the Victoria Day long weekend with a British invasion at #FNLROM was a blast!

We commenced the evening with DJ Sean Caff as he warmed up the crowd with some classic hip hop, R&B, soul, funk, reggae, house, pop, EDM and rock n’ roll in Bronfman Hall. There’s nothing like having a Gin and Tonic while dancing to a Tribe Called Quest before we headed off to visit with dinosaurs.

DJ Intrinity (a Red Bull Thr3style DJ and Way home Festival Artist) has solidified himself as one of Canada’s premiere open-format DJ’s. We grooved some more to Smash Mouth and other club anthems at the Currelly Mainstage before we jetted off for some food from the vendors nearby.

This week we got foodie busy with Gushi Foods and their Gushi Original! Think Japanese Chicken, karage on rice with sesame vinaigrette, spicy mayo and green onions. Fellow #FNLROM’ers this was a great little meal to pick up in addition to your cocktails or beers.

But it seemed like my friends and our growing fellow ROM guests were all awaiting ‘Wannabe the Spice Girls Tribute Band’ at the Currelly Mainstage at 9:30 p.m.. These ladies were all flash and had the attitudes, pouts, sassiness and back flips down as they took the crowd back to the 90’s to the Original 5. As the crowd surged forward and danced, sang and felt the good feels from the likes of Wannabe’s Geri, Victoria, Emma, Mel B and Mel C – we all felt 30 minutes wasn’t enough to be entertained with the classics such as ‘Mama’, ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ and ‘Spice Up Your Life’. Next time, can we get an hour with Wannabe please?

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The Royal Ontario Museum’s (ROM) Friday Night Live (#FNLROM) series, presented by Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd, delivers Toronto’s best Friday night destination with the hottest DJs, live performances, food and drink, and an opportunity to experience the Museum like never before. On Friday, May 26, 2017, strike a pose and shine a light on all things photography! Discover the connections between family, photography, and migration in our new exhibition The Family Camera.

May 26: Performances

Spoons

Formed in 1980, an intrepid young band from Burlington, Ontario made “Spoons” a different kind of household word…and helped define the sound of pop and new wave.

DJ Mix n’ Match

Scratching, blending and cutting his way through sets, Dj Mix N Match brings a level of unparalleled energy and showmanship to his performances that set him apart from the pack. This versatile musical talent hails from Toronto and has spent nearly a decade on the scene honing his trademark mash-up style.

DJ Mark Russell

Promoter and project manager with Live Nation by day, revered Toronto DJ by night. Mark plays a mix of club hits, deep grooves, and catchy dance floor tunes.

U of T Faculty of Music

Featuring Stars of the University of Toronto jazz music program.

GALLERY ACTIVATIONS

Zista Arts Society: Brings a vibrant blend of South Asian music, dance, and art to #FNLROM!

FEATURED EXHIBITIONS

The Family Camera

Discover the connections between family, photography, and migration with The Family Camera, an exhibition that explores how family photos shape our sense of self, family, community, and nation.

Art, Honour, and Ridicule: Asafo Flags from Southern Ghana

This new exhibition takes a historical and contemporary look at Asafo flags. These flags are the insignia created for the numerous military Asafo companies of the Fante states along the coast of Southern Ghana. Historically, Asafo companies were in charge of the safety and protection of the local community as well as warfare. Today they act as the vibrant core of local communities. Their flags depict narratives of pride, wisdom, and defiant messages to enemies and are sacred objects depicting the spirit and history of a company.

Thank you to our friends at the ROM for gifting Thirty Four Flavours with a pair of tickets to the May 26 FLASH edition of Friday Night Live (#FNLROM).

What are the rules when entering the Thirty Four Flavours and Friday Night Live (#FNLROM) Ticket Giveaway?

Simple! Please sign up to Thirty Four Flavours Facebook https://www.facebook.com/thirtyfourflavours, Twitter https://twitter.com/34flavours, or email subscription to enter the draw. When you have signed up please send me a Facebook message, a tweet or email (thirtyfourflavours@gmail.com) telling me what you are excited to see at the May 26 FLASH edition of Friday Night Live (#FNLROM).

Deadline for the Thirty Four Flavours and Friday Night Live (#FNLROM) Ticket Giveaway is Wednesday May 24, 2017.